IE6 to auto update to IE7 on XP
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Microsoft have announced that the new version of Internet Explorer - IE7 - will automatically download and install to Windows XP users at the end of this year.
It will be distributed as part of Microsoft’s Windows Update feature, […]
Google shows invalid clicks - but clickfraud still an issue
by Brian Turner
Google this week announced that they would be showing Adwords advertisers how many clicks are not being charged to them.
The move is in response to growing unease among advertisers that anywhere between 10%-30% of their PPC spend is being wasted on fraudulent clicks - known as clickfraud.
Although the move by Google should be welcomed, […]
Teen mags move online
by Brian Turner
Teen People, teen magazine that launched both print and web editions, is closing down the print edition because the internet version is much more popular.
It becomes the latest in a string of teen publishers who have found that teen audiences are much more interested in online content than printed content.
Earlier this year Smash Hits magazine, […]
Clueless MPAA attack DigitalPoint
by Brian Turner
The MPAA has is in the process of being challenged over it’s aggressive legal threats.
Shawn Hogan was contacted by a lawyer for the MPAA last year, claiming that Shawn had illegally downloaded the film “Meet the Fockers” via BitTorrent.
The MPAA then demanded $2500 in damages.
Shawn denies the charge, and even claims that he already owned […]
July 15, 2006
Google GDrive becomes Platypus?
by Brian Turner
Google’s long anticipated suite of online software services for storing user data - the so-called “GDrive” - has apparently been spotted going under the name of “Platypus”.
A download page offering Google’s online service bundle as Platypus was originally found on a HTML index page at Writely - a text publishing service recently bought by Google.
Although […]
July 14, 2006
Google AdWords - changes bite advertisers
by Brian Turner
Some advertisers have complained that recent changes to the Adwords advertising system are sending PPC budgets sky-high.
The changes implemented by Google include an unknown “quality rating” factor, which directly affects bid prices.
Where Google feels the page the ad leads to is of relatively poor “quality”, the bid price rises for keywords used to advertise […]
Search engines support removal of DMOZ titles
by Brian Turner
In another move to empower webmasters, a new meta-tag is being supported by some search engines.
The new meta-tag tells search engines to use the actual page description and title, as opposed to a DMOZ description and title.
This is because Google and MSN have for some time been using DMOZ description and titles for websites listed […]
July 13, 2006
Bye bye Windows 98
by Brian Turner
Windows 98 - a revolution in its time during te 1990’s, is not being officially closed down.
As of July 11th, Microsoft will no longer release upgrades and patches to the Windows 98 operating system.
The change affects Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Me (Millenium).
Although free support stopped in 2003, paid support was still […]
Yahoo! and MSN Messenger join
by Brian Turner
People who use Yahoo! Messenger and MSN Messenger can now contact each other directly.
The breakthrough comes after both companies released software that will allow their own proprietary messenger software services to be compatible.
At present the work is in trial stages, but is expected to be completed over the year.
This continues a general trend between big […]
VoIP - not ready yet
by Brian Turner
VoIP is good - but not good enough to replace existing landlines.
That’s the conclusion of Which? magazine, the publication of the Consumers Association.
It tested 6 of the major VoIP suppliers - Skype, Yahoo!, Google, Babble, Sipgate, and MSN.
It rated Skype as one of the easiest to install and use, and also rated it best for […]
Oil hits record highs
by Brian Turner
Oil prices have hit record highs, after a series of events brought fresh fears to already jittery worldwide commodity markets.
US light crude reached a record $75.89 a barrel, while London Brent crude hit a new high of $75.60.
A combination of Israeli aggression in the Middle East, supply fears in Nigeria, and continued confrontation of […]
July 1, 2006
Forums warned on new wave of spam
by Brian Turner
Security Watch is advising that a new wave of spam users has been registering at forums over June.
The forum spammers - people who join forums simply to post advertising - have been signing up to forums in large numbers over June with email addresses from @cashette.com.
Once registered, the users come back at a later […]
Economic growth exceeds forecasts for 2006
by Brian Turner
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has reported that the UK saw ecnomic growth above expectations over the first three months of the year.
ONS said that GDP had increased by 0.7% instead of the forecasted 0.6%, mainly due to increased activity in the business services sector.
The news is likely to add to pressures for the […]